“Speaky-what? Speakeasy bars are a type of American bar often considered clandestine, as they were particularly common during Prohibition (the American period when the sale of alcohol was banned in the USA). Long after the ban (and at a time when some people are counting their benders by the hundreds – no, we’re not judging you), numerous bars in the same style and inspired by 1920s-30s decor have opened in Bordeaux.
Bordeaux’s most secret speakeasy bars
-
Symbiosis
It’s one of the city’s best-known speakeasies! And to access it, you’ll need to be a tad curious and adventurous! To enter this cocktail paradise, you have to pass through an old clock. Behind it is a doorway that leads into a sort of back room, where one of Bordeaux’s coolest bars is hidden. Once inside, you’ll discover a timeless world of spirits, aperitifs and other secret concoctions. In a subdued ambience featuring wood, stone and steel, enjoy creative and tastycocktails. The atmosphere is intimate, bewitching and intoxicating.
📍 4 quai des Chartrons
-
Le Cancan
Here’s another must-see from La Belle Endormie: The Cancan! To get there, you’ll have to find and pass through a phone booth. Once inside, you’ll find yourself immersed in a vintage atmosphere thanks to the atypically retro decor. Worn leather sofas, vinyl on the walls, club chairs and retro images… You’ll fall straight under the spell of this 50s-style bar. Set to a background of jazz and funk, you can enjoy modern cocktails from domestic producers. For party-goers, the bar sometimes organizes themed evenings and DJ sets.
📍 7 rue du Cerf Volant
-
Hide Way
To discover this hidden bar, you’ll have to pass behind an old library featuring the masterpieces of Victor Hugo and Maupassant. In a sublime setting that was once a major Bordeaux brothel, we discover an atmosphere worthy of Prohibition that plunges us straight back into the 1930s. To access the bar, climb to the third and top floor. There are leather banquettes, black-and-white paintings, a Gatsby-style tapestry, a large wall of spirits bottles of all kinds, and an old-fashioned smoking room. You can enjoy delicious, tasty cocktails while listening to jazz or electro music.
📍 13 rue de Guienne
-
Le Point Rouge
Located on the Quai de Paludate, this bar is hidden away in one of the wings of the famous Château Descas. Le Point Rouge ‘s discreet interior features exposed beams and stonework, vaulted ceilings and leather sofas, in a warm ambience that blends the traditional with the industrial. À la carte? Over 100 cocktail references from the 1800s to the present day. It’s impossible not to find a cocktail to suit your palate! Passionate about mixology, the bartenders serve up delicious drinks at tempting prices.
📍 1 quai de Paludate
Next time you’re looking for a nice place to go out, you can take a look at this top list of the best hidden speakeasy bars!
Also read on Bordeaux Secret: https://bordeauxsecret.com/restaurants-indiens-bordeaux/